CLA funds major research projects on wildfires, vaping

The Canadian Lung Association (CLA) is excited to announce that $4 million in funding has been awarded to two interdisciplinary research teams as part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s (CIHR’s) Team Grants in Lung Health. CLA was pleased to serve as a funding partner with the CIHR’s Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health and Institute of Infection and Immunity and Heart and Stroke on two of the nine grants awarded. A total of $19.3M was awarded to nine research teams, representing CIHR’s largest-ever investment in lung health.

Paul Kubes, PhD, and his team at Queen’s University will receive $2M over five years for their work to better understand the underlying mechanisms of, and develop better treatment for, asthma exacerbations caused by exposure to wildfire smoke. The researchers believe various tiny particles found in wildfire smoke are triggering the immune systems of those living with asthma, causing an inflammatory response that’s different from a typical asthma exacerbation. Because of this, the drugs typically used to treat asthma exacerbations are ineffective and there is a risk that each subsequent exposure to wildfire smoke will trigger an increasingly strong response and more serious exacerbations.

David Hammond, PhD, and his team at the University of Waterloo will receive $1,999,598 over five years to address the considerable uncertainty about the magnitude of risk on lung health and chronic disease posed by vaping among young people and those with little or no smoking history. The study will provide valuable insight into youth vaping behaviours and the toxic constituents in vaping liquids and aerosols. It will be among the first to examine whether differences in nicotine and flavour profile translate into differences in biomarkers of exposure and potential harm.

“The Canadian Lung Association is thrilled to be one of the funding partners for these two very important and timely research projects,” says Sarah Butson, CEO. “Investing in lung health research fuels a future for healthier lungs for all, which is a priority for CLA. The generous donations we receive from people across Canada help make funding like this possible.”

Read more about CLA’s research funding program.

Make a donation in support of CLA and better lung health.

Read more about CIHR’s Team Grants in Lung Health.